<p>UNOFFICIAL COPY AS OF 06/06/18 12 REG. SESS. 12 RS BR 1042</p><p>A RESOLUTION encouraging the use of school-located influenza programs in order to increase school-aged children's access to immunizations; and to urge the Department of Insurance and Department of Public Health to encourage private insurers to provide point of service reimbursement for vaccines administered at schools or other settings. WHEREAS, every year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from influenza-related complications and about 36,000 people, mostly among the elderly, die from influenza-related causes; and WHEREAS, the most effective strategy for preventing influenza is annual vaccination; and WHEREAS, school-aged children ages five to 19 years have the highest rates of influenza infection and school-aged children are the major vectors for influenza transmission that spread the virus to adults and the elderly in the community, causing substantial socioeconomic impact; and WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual seasonal influenza vaccination for all eligible persons in the United States, including eligible children six months to 18 years of age; and WHEREAS, influenza vaccination rates for school-aged children five to 17 years of age remain low, ranging from 24.6% (healthy) to 34.7% (high-risk) in the 2008-2009 influenza season, and new immunization strategies are needed to improve vaccination in this population; and WHEREAS, the potential threat of an influenza pandemic underscores the importance of building school-located vaccination infrastructure as federal pandemic preparedness plans call for the vaccination of an unprecedented number of children in the school setting; and WHEREAS, school-located influenza vaccination programs have grown substantially in recent years and have been particularly successful in schools in which a</p><p>Page 1 of 2 BR104200.100 - 1042 - 1795 Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY AS OF 06/06/18 12 REG. SESS. 12 RS BR 1042</p><p> majority of children qualify for vaccine through the federal Vaccines for Children program; and WHEREAS, a barrier in school-located influenza vaccination programs is the reimbursement of vaccine to children who have private insurance that covers influenza vaccine but does not recognize the school-setting as a "point of service" for administration of the vaccine; and WHEREAS, the recognition by private insurance of alternative delivery venues, such as schools, for the administration of influenza vaccine would increase access for all school-aged children to receive vaccination to protect themselves and their communities from influenza; NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:</p><p>Section 1. School-located influenza vaccination programs should be encouraged to help increase school-aged children's access to immunization, help protect them from influenza-related illness, reduce school absenteeism due to influenza, and help provide protection to the community at large.</p><p>Section 2. The Kentucky Department of Insurance and the Department of Public Health are strongly urged to convene a meeting with private insurers, the public health community, and vaccine stakeholders to discuss ways to encourage private insurers who already cover influenza vaccination to cover all reasonable and customary expenses, including the cost of the vaccine and administration fee, incurred when an influenza vaccine is administered outside of the physician's office in a school or other related settings.</p><p>Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Insurance, and to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health.</p><p>Page 2 of 2 BR104200.100 - 1042 - 1795 Jacketed</p>